FaZe’s attempt to qualify for the Major by signing up last-minute to a $30K prize pool event has backfired, as they go into PGL Bucharest 0-2 down to kick off the next season’s VRS.
In the grand final of HLC Belgrade Pro, FaZe was up a map against BIG in a match they needed to win for Major qualification. They tried their best on Overpass to come back from a deficit, but lost 11-13, and then got stomped 3-13 on Anubis.
As a result, FaZe will not make the IEM Cologne Major, after being a part of every Major since their entry into Counter-Strike. They had also made every playoffs of every CS2 Major and seven of the last eight, overall.
FaZe tried to salvage a horrendous season last-minute
After a miracle run at the Starladder Budapest Major to the grand final, it was unthinkable that FaZe could be in the position to miss the following Major. However, that was the case a mere week ago, when they lost Digital Crusade DraculaN Season 6 to fnatic 0-2.
In a last-ditch effort, they forfeited the first two matches of an event they had already signed up for, PGL Bucharest. This event would not have given them VRS points to qualify for IEM Cologne, as the date it ended was after the cutoff date for Major qualification.
Instead, they chose to attend HLC Belgrade Pro, to see if they could win it in a last-ditch attempt to qualify for the Major. It looked promising, as FaZe made a flawless run to the final without losing a map, albeit against lesser teams. They even went up a map against BIG, winning Dust2 13-3.
But alas, the regression to the mean returned quickly, as they struggled to compete against opponents that could put up a fight. BIG dominated Overpass overall, only allowing for a small comeback at the end. FaZe’s attempt to defend their honor at the Major once again ended fittingly for the season they have had, losing 3-13 on Anubis to BIG with only frozen and Twistzz getting more than 10 kills.
